A letter arrives in the mail. The paper it is written on is fragile, stained with the passage of time and a giving off a musty odor. Tightly knit script resembling calligraphy floats across each line. The letter seems relatively normal, if not ancient—were it not for the suspicious red blotch in the bottom righthand cornor... until you bring the paper to your nose and catch the distinctly sweet, fresh aroma of tomato juice.
A strange talisman comes with the letter. It’s a strange mishmash of string, cloth, feathers, and small gemstones. In truth, it looks more like an object used to cursed someone rather than an object to ward off evil. The only reason you can tell what it is is because of a small card attached to it describing its origins. It seems to be a souvenier from a distant country in Twisted Wonderland.
***Chapter 2, 4, and 5 spoilers!***
Salutations, Ramshackle Youth.
You are the one Malleus calls his friend, are you not? The one that resides in that decrepit dorm on the edge of campus. I hope that this letter finds you well. After all~ Any friend of Malleus’s is a friend of mine.
If I recall correctly, you have been looking out for him since day 1. It was you and your Heartslabyul friends that uncovered the stampede plot and warned us of it. Because of that, we were able to secure the area and ensure the safety of our prince. To think that a human without magic went out of their way to protect a powerful fairy prince... Now that is unlike anything I have ever witnessed in my entire lifespan.
I am told that you also keep Malleus company on long, lonely nights. Sharing both walks and conversation by midnight. That is a luxury that Malleus cannot often afford. Many are too terrified of his power or beholden to the gap in their social standing to dare approach him. He often sulks and pouts abput it, you know. Despite how he looks, he can have his moments of weakness as well. How wonderful that you seem to recognize that.
I became curious to scope out just what kind of person is able to so easily befriend Malleus. A gallant, selfless soul that looks past appearances and titles... It is an archetype that often appears in the storybooks and legends, but seldom seen in real life. People—humans, fae—can be twisted creatures. Morals grey, dubious. Not always with the best of intentions in mind. I would know. I have witnessed much of their cruelty in my time—and so, I held a some amount of caution as I approached Ramshackle dorm, Malleus’s holiday card in hand.
Perhaps my worries were for nothing. You seemed genuinely surprised that Malleus regarded you as a close companion. There was no scheme in mind to take advantage of his prestige—it was evident in your eyes, the way they lit up when I presented his card to you. I realized... you care every bit for Malleus as much as we in Diasomnia do. (You cannot forgive a guardian like myself for fretting over his “children”, can you?)
It appears that you, too, have become comfortable with calling Malleus your friend. He is, sadly, used to being forgotten. A footnote in the margins at best, the one always left out of events and gatherings. It was you that remembered him, and offered an outstreched hand.
You should have seen the smile upon his face when he spoke of your invitation to VDC. He treated those tickets you gifted him like precious gems, and insisted that we all attend the perfotmance. And what a stellar performance it was. It is a shame that I was not able to join you, but... I am happy to see Malleus happy as well. That sight is every bit as dazzling as the dances set upon that stage.
Malleus is grown by now. I trust that he knows what he is doing when he decided to call you his friend. I will not interfere with his relations—I shall bolster them. Indeed, it would do him some good to socialize more rather than be sad and mopey in his chambers.
In the stories, they often tell tales of knights slaying fearsome dragons. They are tales as old as time itself, even back in my day. But... if you were those knights, I feel that you would flip the script and befriend the dragons instead. It is, perhaps, not the expected outcome, but one that will still go down in the history books—an accomplishment for the ages, a feat of great bravery.
... Surely, you have it within you to become something truly legendary.
Come drop by Diasomnia for dinner sometime! I’ll introduce you to the whole family—and I would be more than happy to cook a lovely meal for you.
